Reflux Baby - Advice Please!

[SamK]

Hi,

I'm new to this, so bear with me if I type without abbreviations.....

My son has gastro oesophigal reflux - he was fially diagnosed after 5 months of misery (his and ours). He is now 7.5 months and has been on LOSEC & Domperidone for about 9 weeks. We have seen some impovement in him since taking the drugs for the reflux (he is not in nearly so much pain). However,he has had back to back chest infections for months and months (I know these are cause by inhaling the vomit), so has been a very miserable baby really.

He is finally shaking off the most recent chest infection (which lasted 6 weeks)and he seems a bit brighter. However he still seems to be very uncomfortable at various points throughout the day. He is still very fractious at the breast (can't get him to take bottle/cup) and altho he loves his solids, he often spends a lot of time grunting and straining. He also cries during feed/meals more often than not.

Is this the reflux, I wonder, or is it something else???I don't know which I am more afraid of .... if it is the reflux then this is obviously as good as he is going to be until he eventually grows out of it. If it is something else (twisted gut??) then I don't want him to be subjected to any more pain or treatment...........

Help! Does anyone have a similar experience???

My ds was born with this it caused his breathing to stop and was admitted to hospital and I was watched for munchousen by proxy syndrome as they thought I was hurting him. They finally discovered that it was gastro-oesophigal reflux. with pyloric stenosis. inherited from my side of the family, my sister had it. he was placed on a heart/breathing monitor that we had to take home with us and it alarmed every time his breathing stopped.

He did grow out of it, at about 1 year old. It was the longest year of my life.

HTH

Just another thought. does he sleep on his back or on his front? this might help by changing his sleeping position

Thanks for this CleanKittyCat. It sounds as if you had a nightmare - I hope all is well now.

The only way we can get mine to sleep is to raise his cot by 45 degrees. If he lies flat he just screams after abuot half an hour of sleep. He is held in (to stop him slipping to the boottom of the cot) by a pair of "big pants" taken off a baby bouncer. This seems to keep him fairly comfortable.

NatureDoc,

I would be intregued to see what you had to say .... pls pls undelete your message!

Spoke to my HV & oesteopath about the rocking and crying during meals - both said it was probably hunger & to give him more snacks....

Since I posted my first message he has another cold whch has gone to his chest. Every time he coughs he vomits. He is back to being the miserable baby he was for months & months.

I have trawled thro the mumsnet archives to see how others have coped with this reflux/chestyness/ misery, but I can't find much. People (doctors etc)keep saying he will grow out of it by 18 months - THAT'S IN A YEAR!!!!! Sometimes I feel like I can't even get thro' today.

HELP!

Firstly implore your doctor to do a scan to check his gut is all in the right places.

Secondly if the child has had reflux it is likley that any food that has stayed down has not been digested properly leading to gas/colic and probably malabsorption which could be the reason why his immune system is so rock bottom. He may also have some food intolerances.

If the doctors won't co-operate and the cranial osteopath hasn't had much luck then find a local homeopath or naturopath or nutritionist.

Oh poor you and DS.

I would double-check with the doctor about the use of domperidone. This is not actually recommended in children with dyspepsia according to the BNF (doctors medicine bible). Although it seems unlikely that this is the cause of the continuing problems. I assume your son is being seen by the consultant?

Hope he feels better soon.

Thanks both for sympathy and advice.

He is seeing a really good osteopath regularly, and an excellent homeopath ( we have 4 different remedies from her) .... and I've had loads of advice from a friend who's traning to be a nutritionist.

He definately has reflux, so the domperidone is necessary at the moment.

So I think we're covering all bases that we can ... fingers crossed things will get better soon......